Foot switch



J n 7, 1938. I. E. won 2,119,888

FOOT SWITCH Filed July 30, 1936 3 SheetS-Sheet l INVENTOR. //rmv EARL'N/xo/v.

ATTORNEY.

June 7, 1938 g, N xo 2,119,888

FOOT SWITCH Filed July 30, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. #3:? 549. Mxav.

ATTORNEY.

Jung 7, was. E N 2,119,888

FOOT SWITCH Filed July so, 1956 s Shets-Sheet s ATTORNEY.

Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES FOOT SWITCH Irvin Earl Nixon,Houston, Tex., assignor to M. 0.

Scobee and himself,

Application July 30,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to switches especially the type operated by thefoot, said switches being used in connection with telephone, telegraph,signal systems or the like for various switching purposes.

The object of this invention is to provide a foot switch that willoperate efiiciently with a minimum of effort on the part of the user;also to lift up the circuit controlling or switching means a suitabledistance above the flooring in the vicinity of the foot pedal of saidswitch, thereby clearing said switching means from exposure to dust,dirt and moisture which invariably collects upon the flooring or othersurfaces where such aparatus is located.

The novel features of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichFig. l is a partial sideway elevation of a foot switch, the circuitswitching means enclosed in switch box i.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch shown in Fig. 1 on a line 22 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial detail view of the switching lever arrangement on aline 33 of Fig. 2. The aforementioned detail illustrates the operationof the lever 2 in connection with the'push button switch 3.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the switch box I showing the internal wiringof the same; also showing external connections with the telephone mouthpiece 5; and also with the battery B. The position of the push buttonswitch 3 as shown in Fig. 4 disconnects the battery B from the wiredcircuit.

Fig. 5 is a further detail of the switch box showing the manner of theoperation of the push button switch 3 in connection with the multiplejack 4. The position of the switch 3 cuts the battery B into thecircuit.

Fig. 6 is a modification of a foot switch mechanism, the connecting rodoperating in a ball socket 6.

Fig. '7 is a further modification of a foot switch 45 mechanisminvolving the operation of the connecting rod operable by the kicking ofor by a sidewise rotatable movement of the foot pedal.

Fig. 8 is a further modification of a foot switch mechanism involvingthe operation of the connecting rod by means of the transverse bar 9.

Referring to the drawings, the foot switch proper is mounted upon anupright frame [2. The numeral I designates the switch box or containerin which the circuit wiring and switch jack is contained. Said switchbox is mounted both of Houston, Tex.

1936, Serial No. 93,501 (01. 200-159) on said frame 12 which is made ofwood or the like. The upright frame I2 is slotted at the locationdesignated as 12 and the floor pedal 9 is fitted into said slot. 'Saidpedal is pivotally mounted on the bearing 9 The retractile spring Hrestores the pedal 9 to normal position when said pedal is released bythe users foot. Mounted upon said pedal is the connecting rod 1 which isconnected to the arm 2 of the bell crank l0; said bell crank is movableon the bearing IN. The bell crank I0 is secured to the upright frame I2by means of the screws 2 The lever arm 2 of the bell crank I0 rests uponor is closely contiguous to the push button 3 the pin of which projectsthrough a. bushing in said switch box as shown;

When the foot pedal 9 is pressed by the foot the connecting rod 1 movesthe arm 2 and with it the bell crank Iii causing the lever, arm 2 topush the button 3 inward. The above action causes the push button 3 tobe forced inward by the lever arm 2.

The circuit arrangement in connection with the foot switch shown in Fig.4 is a typical cut out key arrangement for telephones generally used intrain dispatching. The cut out key normally keeps the batterydisconnected from the circuit. When it is desired to talk into thetelephone transmitter 5, the user will press the foot pedal 9 which willcause the nose 3 of the push button 3 to press against the joinedcontact springs or fingers l3 and l3 causing said fingers to move to theleft and contacting with the springs l4, l5 and I6. The contacting ofthe springs of the multiple jack 4 as just described is shown in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 4 the push button 3 is released from the contact spring orfinger l3 resulting in the disconnection of the battery B from thetelephone circuit.

An insulated rod l3 joins the contact springs l3 and i3 together so thatthey may contact with the respective contact spring simultaneously.

The circuit connections in the switch box I are of the usual type thatare incorporated in many telephone systems and are well known to the artand do not require detailed description.

Connected in the aforesaid circuit is the eondenser I5, the function ofwhich is well known to the art.

Referring to Fig. 6. The connecting rod 7 rests in a ball bearing base6. Mounted on the connecting rod and secured thereto is the foot pedal9. The conecting rod 1 is secured at its upper end to bearing l6 whichis secured in turn to the switch box I by means of a pair of screws. Therod I is provided with an extension lever H which contacts with the pushbutton 3. When the pedal 9 is pushed in the direction of the arrow shownin the figure, the lever I1 is caused to contact with and move the pushbutton switch 3 inward into the switch box I causing the contacting ofthe multiple jack 4 in the manner as described with reference to theoperation of the foot switch shown in Fig. 1.

The connecting rod 1 is retracted by the spring II in the usual manner.

Referring to Fig. '7, the foot pedal 9 is connected to the connectingrod 1 which is pivoted at the arbor l8 and said rod swings thereon.Mounted upon the switch box I is the bell crank III. The upper endextension 'I of the rod I rests outwardly upon the lever Ill of the bellcrank Ill When the users foot strikes the pedal 9 and thus moving it inthe direction of the arrow shown in the figure, the upper end extensionI of the rod 1 will move the lever III of the bell crank lo Thismovement will cause the lever Ill to move the push button switch 3performing the function as already described. The retractile spring IIwill restore the foot pedal 9 to normal when released by the users foot.

Referring to Fig. 8, the lift rod 1 is secured at its lower end totransverse rod I9 by means of the jointing member I9, said transverserod is secured to a U-shaped pedal rail 8, said pedal rail or bar beingpivoted in bearings 8 The upper extension of the connecting rod 1 issecured to the lever Ill of the bell crank IIJ The lever 10 of said bellcrank contacts with the push button switch 3.

When the pedal rail or bar is depressed by the users foot in thedirection shown by the arrow in Fig. 8, the lever I0 will move downwardwhich will cause the lever I U to press against the push button switch 3resulting in contacting of the multiple jack 4 in the manner alreadydescribed. The retractile spring II will restore the pedal rail 8 to itsnormal position when released by the users foot.

Referring to Fig. 4 the push button switch 3 is retracted to theposition shown in said figure when released by the lever arm 2 of thebell crank I0.

It is obvious that the foot switch arrangement as shown has uses otherthan that particularly described and I therefore do not wish to confinemyself to said particular usage.

Now having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a device of theclass described including a switch, said switch having a series ofvertically disposed contact members, a housing for completely enclosingsaid switch, a bushing in said housing, a plunger rod movable throughsaid bushing, said plunger rod causing the contacting of said verticallydisposed contacting members, a bell crank lever having an arm inoperable contact with said plunger rod, a connecting rod operablyconnected to said bell crank, and a foot pedal operably connected tosaid connecting rod, said switch and housing therefor elevated above theconnecting rod aforesaid.

2. In a foot switch of the class described including a foot pedal, anupright rod connected thereto, a bell crank having an arm connected tosaid rod, a switch comprising a series of contact springs, a housingenclosing said switch, a plunger member projecting inwardly into saidhousing and being moved in a horizontal plane by said bell crank, saidprojected movement of said plunger member causing the contacting of saidcontact springs in one direction, and the retracting movement of saidplunger member causing the contacting of said contacting springs in anopposite direction, said housing being elevated

